Collapsible box.



H. G. HALL.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZI 191s. RENEWED DEC. 5.1911.

Patented July 2, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wihwoo H. G. HALL.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

APPLKIATIQN FILED JULY 21, 1915- RENEWED DEC. 5 l9l7- Patented J uly 2,1918..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

affotue 1 4 H. G. HALL.

COLLAPS IBLE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZI, l9l6- RENEWED DEC. 5| 19H.

Patented July 2, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I citizen of the United the.

meant a. neat, or artan'ra, enoaera.

GUILLAFSIBLE BOX.

. Lat'noaa.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ma a, iota.

Application filed. July 21, 1916, Serial Ito. 110,508. Renewed December5, 1917. Serial No. 205,6M.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, HARRY; G. Harte, a

States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State ofGeorgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boxes,of which the following is "a specification.

This invention generically relates to boxes of the pasteboard typeconstructed from a one piece blank, but it more especially com- Iprehends that style termed foldable, knockdown or collapsible; and oneobject is to provide a box which can be quickly and economicallyconstructedywill fold flatly, and be capable of utilization for variouspurposes in the art.

Another object is to provide a box which may be constructed from asingle blank and expeditiously changed from erected to collapsedposition, or vice-versa.

A further object is to provide a box having reinforced and rigidlystayed corners, capable of withstanding rough and continued usage, andwhen filled will not disengage at the corners, a defect prevalent inboxes of this character.

Uther and still further objects are to provide a box which, thougheasily collapsed or erected, may be durable, efficient, and comprisingfew parts or sections.

. Withthese and other objects in, view n invention consists-in certainnovel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe more particularly hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicatedby similar reference characters Figure 1. is a top plan view of theblank cut and scored, and prior to folding;

Fig. 2 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1, with sides 2 in foldedposition;

Fig. 3 is a similar view to that of Fig. 2, showing end reinforcingflaps 5 in position, ends folded, and showmg the entire blank incollapsed position; 0

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary PGISPBCtIVB View, showing folded flap inposition, and ends in course of erection Fig. 5 is a similar. view tothat of Fig. 4, one step nearer complete erection; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view to that of Fig. 5, with end completely erected,and with end extension flaps 5 in locked position.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing my invention,.Fig. 1illustrates a blank substantially rectangular in shape and comprising abottom section 1 bounded by score lines 1*, extending lengthwise fromend to end at a distance from the outer edge of the blank equal to thedesired depth of the box, and transversely extending score lines 1parallel with the ends of the blank, and at a distance therefrom equaltotwice the desired depth of the box. By the score lines 1 are formedside sections 2, carrying near their upper and outer corners tongues 2*formed by cutting along lines 2".

The extension of score lines 1 and 1 beyond their intersectionconstitutes 'score lines 4: and 2, respectively, and forming cornersections 3. Said corner sections 3 are scored diagonally along line 3from their innermost corners 3 totheir outermost corners 3,taperingslightly from the outer end of score line 2 .to the corner 3 along theline 3, and from the end of score line 433 to the outermost corner 3along the line 3.- The corner sections 3 are creased along score lines3* and constitute inwardly folding corner staying reinforcing andconnecting members.

By the score linesl are formed sections 4 constituting the ends of thebox. Equidistant from score line 1" and theendof the blank is theparallelly extending score line 4 effecting inwardly foldable endreinforcing and staying flap 5. Said flap 5 is provided with the scoreline 5, defining the locking extension and corner staying members 5". Ateach end of score line 4 are provided the substantially V shaped cuts ornotches 6, which not only form the inner walls of extension members 5",but also gives the proper taper to corner sections 3 along the line 3.

To properly guide the folding upon itself of the inwardly foldingsection 3, the staple 7 or other suitable fastening elements areprovided, securing the outer fold 3 of the corner section 3 to the endsection 4. In order to facilitate the erection as well as the collapsingof the box, fastening elements 8 are provided, securing to end section 4the end folding and reinforcing flap 5.

The facility with which a box may be constructed from a single blank,according to my invention, as above outlined, is at once apparent. Thepattern as clearly shown in Fig. 1, can be easily and quickly cut, andowing to the few necessary score lines, the entire preparationpreparatory to putting the blank in condition for setting up as acompleted box requires but a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

After the blank has been prepared, as

. shown in Fig. 1, the sides 'are folded on scores 1 and staples orother suitable fastening elements are inserted to secure the outer fold3 of corner section 3 to end section 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing. The end flaps 5 are then folded over and inwardly on endsections 4, on-

scores 4 and secured thereto by staples 8 or other suitable fasteningelements, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The box is then in collapsed position, and it will be observed that whenthus folded it ractically consists of a rectangular sheet, occupying butlittle space, and may be stacked one above the other facilitatingshipping, storing and handling. If desired, the extension members 5* maybe foldeddownwardly and inwardly on scores 5 between end flaps 5 andside sections 2, in which event a perfect restangular sheet will beobtained.

To place the box in erected position it is but necessary to raise theside sections 2, the first step of which is shown in Fig. 4, toperpendicular position, and as the outer fold 3 of the corner section 3is secured to the end 4, the raising of the side sections 2 causescorner sections 3, as shown in Figs. 4 and.5, to fold, at the same timedrawing up end sections 4to perpendicular position, and as thereinforcing folded over end flap 5 is secured to end section 4, as itcomes to perpendicular position, will be caused to slide over, theinwardly extending corner staying flaps formed by the folding of cornersections 3 upon themselves.

Thus, it is obvious that. by the simple and single operation of raisingside sections 2, every part of the box is brought to its proper erectedposition, and the only further operation necessary is to place theextension and staying flaps'5 under the locking tongues 2, when the boxwill be in completely erected position, ready for use, as clearly showninFig. 6 of the drawing.

A cover maybe provlded by following the same construction as that of thebox, but iuflioiently dimentioned to telescope the said Many effortshave been made, but with scant'success, to provide a box of this typewhich would withstand hard usage, be collapsible, yet sufiiciently tightto prevent the escape of liquid matter.

Particular attention is directed to the corner construction, in that, Ihave provided a number of folds so arranged as to form two exterior andone interior corner, each independent of the other. After the exteriorcorners have succumbed to wear or become otherwise damaged, the interioror auxiliary corners formed by the extension and locking flaps 5 will beleft intact, and the usefulness of the box will still be unimpaired.

By this construction it will be readily seen that the life of the box isdoubled in addition to being far more durable and substantial than thosenow in use. Not only do the locking flaps 5 provide auxiliary corners,but they also constitute stays, lending rigidity and stability to theends of the box, at the same time performing a similar function withrespect to the sides. Also these extension flaps 5 perform still anotherimportant function in constituting locking members capable of firmlyholdin in position the end sections of the box, w ien properly adjustedunder the locking tongues 2.

Another novel feature relative to the corner construction is the cornerstaying and connecting sections 3, which, when the box is in erectedposition, constitute inwardly projecting extension stays of a thicknesstwice that of the sides and being positioned interjacent'the end section4 and end reinforcing flap 5, not only further stiffen the ends, butabsolutely prevent the sides from being forced apart at the corners,irrespective/of the force or weight outwardly direeted against them.

It will be observed that in constructing the corners in accordance withmy invention there are no slits or notches, and when the box is inerected position a continuous and unbroken side and end wall is providedconstituting a non-leakable box.

It is apparent that the locking members 5*, end reinforcing flaps 5, endsections 4, and sides 2, all perform with respect to the corners doublefunctions, thereby producing a corner construction for boxes of thischaracter superior to those now known to the art.

Having now described my invention, what jacent the inner surfaces of theside sections, nection therewith a lock, substantially as effecting adouble ply of material contigu and for the purpose set forth. ous theextremities of said side sections, and

producing a reinforcing corner interior of I HARRY HALL 5 the cornerfolds, and tongues on said side Witnesses:

sections adapted to engage the upper edges G. S. SORUBY,

4 of said locking members, constituting in con- R. W. LEVERETT.

